Mohave County, AZ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Mohave County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Mohave County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, heat wave, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 46% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (85th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Mohave County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1977, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (4), flood (4), fire (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015 | Fire | Willow Fire |
| 2013 | Fire | Dean Peak Fire |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005 | Fire | Az-Hulet Fire-06-11-2005 |
| 1985 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rain & High Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 total declarations since 1977.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively High | 98.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 97.1 | 404 | 3 | $3.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 87.1 | 6 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 98.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 3.3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 51.1 | 20 | 0 | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 71.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 68.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 2.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 98 | 5 | 0 | $175K |
| Drought | Very Low | 20.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 67 | 3 | 0 | $9K |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 68.6 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 60.9 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Mohave County ranks in the 85th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 83rd | High |
| Household characteristics | 84th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 74th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 80th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 28.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 435 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 177 in 2016–20 vs 258 in 2021–25 (+46% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Mohave County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Mohave County, Arizona are wildfire, heat wave, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Mohave County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Mohave County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Mohave County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Mohave County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Mohave County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Clark County, NV has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very High) and Lincoln County, NV has the lowest (Very Low). Mohave County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Mohave County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Mohave County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Mohave County's composite score of 95 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 95% of US counties.